SELF-CLEANING DEVICE FOR PROCESSING FOOD PRODUCTS

• US 20130104709A1
• Filed: 10/26/2012
• Published: 05/02/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/28/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
• Original Assignee: Weber Maschinenbau GmbH Breidenbach
• Inventors: Rother, Ingo
• Application Number:
  US13/661,990
• Publication Number:
  US 20130104709A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/23
• CPC Class Codes: B08B 1/20 Cleaning of moving articles, e.g. of moving webs or of objects on a conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2007/0025 Sterilizing
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2210/02 for cutting food products, e.g. food slicers
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/00 Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting cutters B26D1/00; arrangements for guiding hand cutting tools B26B29/06; punching tools or dies, cutting-out knives or dies B26F
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0625 by endless conveyors, e.g. belts
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/088 by cleaning or lubricating sterilizing B26D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/1863 by suction
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/32 for conveying or stacking cut product means for removing cut-out material or waste B26D7/18
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/10 Cleaning devices adaptations of roller sleeves for cleaning belts B65G39/073
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/12 comprising scrapers
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 45/18 comprising brushes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/0448 With subsequent handling [i.e., of product]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/207 By suction means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/2192 Endless conveyor

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for slicing food products which can have a non-homogeneous structure. The device comprises a supply device, a cutting device, namely the slicer, and a removal device, preferably an endless conveyor belt. It is provided to have the device be designed to be self-cleaning. Sterilization of the device is likewise provided.

Claims

1. A device for slicing food products such as solid sausages or ham, where said food products can have a non-homogeneous structure, and where said food products can be supplied by means of a supply device to a cutting device, namely, a slicer, and said food products cut into slices in said slicer are removed by a removal device;

said removal device may be formed by one or more endless belts, comprising;

devices provided in said slicer, in said supply device, or said removal device;

to self clean said slicer, and said supply device and/or said removal device and/or said cutting device to be self-cleaning.

2. The device for slicing food products according to claim 1, wherein said devices for self-cleaning of said slicer, and of said supply device and said removal device are operable during production breaks.

3. The device for slicing food products according to claim 1, wherein said devices for self-cleaning of said slicer, said supply device and said removal device are operable during production.

4. The device for slicing food products according to claim 1, wherein said devices for self-cleaning of said slicer, said supply device and said removal device are operable with a cleaning liquid.

5. The device for slicing food products according to claim 1, wherein said devices to self-clean said slicer, said supply device and said removal device are operable with a cleaning liquid, where said cleaning liquid can be sprayed onto the area to be cleaned using spray balls.

6. The device for slicing food products according to claim 5, further including spray balls at the end of lines for said cleaning liquid, said spray balls comprising a plurality of openings formed as nozzles from which said cleaning liquid can exit.

7. The device for slicing food products according to claim 4, wherein drain facilities for said cleaning liquid are provided in at least one of at said slicer, and said supply devices or said removal devices.

8. The device for slicing food products according to claim 4, wherein no drain facilities for said cleaning liquid are provided at said slicer and at said preferably provided supply devices and said removal devices, so that said cleaning liquid is dischargeable via drain facilities at a floor.

9. The device for slicing food products according to claim 1, further including devices for drying and/or devices for rinsing and/or devices for disinfection provided in at least one of said slicer, and said supply devices and said removal devices.

10. A device for slicing food products such as solid sausages or ham, where said food products can have a non-homogeneous structure, and where said food products can be supplied by means of a supply device to a cutting device, namely, a slicer, and said food products cut into slices in said slicer are removed by a removal device;

said removal device is formed by an endless belt, comprising;

devices are provided in at least one of said slicer, said supply device and said removal device;

to sterilize said slicer and said supply device and said removal device.

11. The device for slicing food product according to claim 10, wherein said devices for sterilizing said slicer said supply device and said removal device are operable during production breaks.

12. The device for slicing food product according to claim 10, wherein said devices for sterilizing said slicer said supply device and said removal device are operable during production.

13. The device for slicing food products according to one claim 10, wherein steam, peroxide or ozone lamps are used for sterilizing.

14. The device for slicing food products such as solid sausages and ham, where said food products can have a non-homogeneous structure and are cut into slices in a slicer, said device comprising:

a suction unit for sucking away cutting powder is provided in the production zone of said slicer.

15. The device for slicing food products according to claim 14, wherein said cutting powder is sucked away during production.

16. A conveyor belt comprising as an endless belt, adapted to remove food products cut into slices in a slicer, wherein

said food products are transported in the upper portion of said conveyor belt, and a device for continuous cleaning of said conveyor belt is provided in the lower portion of said conveyor belt.

17. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, wherein said lower portion of said conveyor belt is cleaned with a cleaning liquid, said lower portion of said conveyor belt is guidable through a cleaning liquid.

18. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, further including devices for scraping off cleaning liquid, said devices provided at said lower portion of said conveyor belt.

19. The conveyor belt according to claim 16, further including devices for brushing said conveyor belt provided at said lower portion of said conveyor belt.

20. A method for slicing food products having a non-homogeneous structure like solid sausages or ham, comprising:

supplying food products to a slicer by means of a supply device, cutting said food products into slices in said slicer, and removing said slices from said slicer by a removal device, wherein during production breaks and/or during production, at least one of the devices involved and/or said slicer are preferably cleaned by suction.

21. A method for slicing food products having a non-homogeneous structure like solid sausages or ham, comprising:

supplying food products to a slicer by a supply device, cutting said food into slices in said slicer, and from said slicer by a removal device, and sterilizing at least one of the devices or slicer by steam peroxide or zone lamps during production breaks or during production.

22. A method for cleaning an endless conveyor belt being downstream of a device for slicing food products having a non-homogeneous structure, comprising:

cleaning a lower portion of said endless conveyor belt with cleaning liquid, wherein said endless conveyor belt passes through a cleaning liquid, wherein excess cleaning liquid can be scraped off, said endless conveyor belt further cleaned with brushes.